To talk or not to talk? European Parliament plenary debates and consent procedures for the conclusion of international agreements

This paper studies the conditions under which European Parliament (EP) plenary debates are organized as part of EP consent procedures for the conclusion of international agreements negotiated by the European Union (EU). Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EP has to give its consent to most international agreements negotiated by the EU, at the stage of their conclusion. But it is through formal and informal means at early stages of the procedure that the EP exercises influence. Yet, in approximately 25% of cases, the EP organizes plenary debates just before votes on consent. Therefore, the paper asks: why does the EP organize plenary debates as part of consent procedures for the conclusion of international agreements negotiated by the EU, when these debates do not allow to exercise influence on the content of these international agreements? Two complementary hypotheses related to the completion of identity objectives by the EP through these parliamentary debates are examined: (1) if there are normative issues related to the agreement (human rights, democracy or environment), an EP plenary debate is more likely; (2) if these issues are more salient in the media, an EP plenary debate is more likely. Using a multivariate logistic regression, the two hypotheses are examined against alternative explanations concerning the structural characteristics of third parties with which the international agreement is negotiated and internal EP power configurations. The paper provides a systematic analysis of a modality of EP involvement in the negotiation of international agreements by the EU post-Lisbon Treaty, relying on the construction of a comprehensive database of approximately 300 international agreements concluded by the EU. It also informs the drivers of democratic practices in the EU. More broadly, it contributes to the understanding of parliamentary practices relative to the conclusion of international agreements.